Program benefits low-income families in region

By the Midland Daily News

Published 3:56 am, Friday, January 20, 2012

The Michigan Department of Education has been awarded a $460,136 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand a demonstration project that provides low income families with nutritious food for their children during the summer months when school breakfast and school lunch meals are not obtainable.

The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children Demonstration (SEBTC) will benefit students in the Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District, as well as the Bay-Arenac Intermediate School District, the Midland County Education Service Agency and the Tuscola Intermediate School District.

A portion of students enrolled these districts who qualify for free or reduced lunch will be randomly selected to receive $60 per month in food benefits during June, July and August of this year. Selection will occur this spring and a total of 5,000 students will be chosen from Arenac, Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Midland and Tuscola counties.

“I am so grateful our community was chosen to be part of this project,” said Clare-Gladwin RESD Assistant Superintendent for General Education Deb Snyder. “In a rural area such as ours, finding transportation to a school-based summer lunch program is not convenient or cost-effective for many families. With access to these funds, parents can purchase and prepare the healthy food in a manner that best suits their family situation.”

Because the program is a federal study and funds are limited, not all families who apply will be able to participate. However, if one child’s name from a family is selected, all of the children in that family in grades K-12 will receive the benefits.

The monthly funding will be given to families through the Electronic Benefit Transfer card system. The EBT cards will only pay for approved food items.